Content
Growing Carpathian bell from seeds is most often done using the seedling method. To successfully germinate, the seed of this flowering ornamental perennial needs plenty of diffused light, consistently warm air temperatures, light, nutritious soil and moderate watering. At the initial stage, Carpathian bell seedlings develop rather slowly and need proper care. However, after transplanting grown seedlings into open ground, they grow quickly and, under favorable conditions, can begin to bloom already in the current season. Adult Carpathian bells are unpretentious, resistant to frost and drought, and adapt well to almost any climate. Regular watering, loosening the soil and nutritious fertilizing will help ensure long and abundant flowering of these bright beauties, which will easily fit into any landscape composition.
The nuances of growing Carpathian bell seedlings
A photo will help you imagine what Carpathian bellflower seeds look like:
The seeds of the Carpathian bell are very small, so it is convenient to sow them by mixing them with dry, clean sand
Those who plan to grow seedlings of this flower will probably need knowledge of some nuances:
- The seeds of the Carpathian bell are very small: the weight of 1000 pieces, depending on the variety, is usually 0.25-1 g. In order to slightly thin out the seedlings and achieve uniform germination, it is recommended to mix them with dry, clean sand, previously calcined and sifted through a sieve.
- You should buy seed only from trusted manufacturers. This will help to avoid over-grading and obtain strong, viable seedlings.
- Carpathian bell seeds are best germinated fresh, as they quickly lose their viability.
- First, the seed must be stratified. The seeds should be wrapped in a piece of damp cloth, placed in a plastic bag, tied tightly and placed in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. Stratification periods range from two weeks to 1 month.
- Immediately before planting, the seeds can be soaked in a growth stimulant solution or simply in warm water for 4 hours. After this, you should filter the liquid through a thick cloth and let them dry a little in the air.
When to plant Carpathian bellflower for seedlings
The timing of planting Carpathian bell seeds for seedlings should be determined based on the climatic characteristics of the region:
- in the southern regions you can start sowing at the end of February or early March;
- in central Russia, including the Moscow region, the optimal time will be mid-March;
- in the northern regions (Siberia, Ural, Leningrad region) it is best to wait until the beginning of April.
How to sow Carpathian bellflower for seedlings
You need to sow Carpathian bellflower for seedlings according to the rules. First you need to prepare suitable containers and soil. Then sowing should be done, taking into account some of the features of this procedure.
Selection and preparation of containers
The optimal container option for growing Carpathian bell from seeds is a wide and flat container no deeper than 7 cm.
It is best to plant seeds in a wide, shallow container filled with light, loose soil with a neutral reaction.
The container can be either plastic or wooden. The main condition is the presence of holes in the bottom to drain excess moisture. If there are none, they should be drilled out or done yourself using scissors or a nail.
Before use, it is advisable to disinfect the container by treating it with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Soil preparation
The substrate for germinating Carpathian bell seeds should be:
- light;
- loose;
- moderately nutritious;
- with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction.
The suitable composition of the soil mixture is:
- garden soil (turf) – 6 parts;
- humus - 3 parts;
- fine sand - 1 part.
You can buy a ready-made universal substrate for seedlings of flower plants.In this case, it will need to be diluted with sand, perlite or vermiculite by mixing 1 part baking powder with 3 parts soil.
Sowing Carpathian bellflower for seedlings
Sowing Carpathian bell seeds in the soil is not difficult.
They do it like this:
- A layer of drainage (expanded clay, perlite, fine gravel) of approximately 1.5 cm should be poured into the container.
- Fill the container with the prepared substrate, leaving 2-3 cm to the edges.
- Moisten the soil with water from a spray bottle.
- Sprinkle the mixture of seeds and fine sand evenly over the surface of the soil. Under no circumstances should they be buried.
- Water the crops using a spray bottle.
- Cover the top of the container with glass, a transparent lid or film, creating a “greenhouse effect”.
At the initial stage, seedlings develop slowly and need warmth, plenty of light and regular moderate watering
Caring for Carpathian bell seedlings
Correctly organized care of the Carpathian bell after planting plays an important role. If favorable conditions are maintained, seedlings will begin to appear within 10-25 days.
Microclimate
Mandatory conditions for the germination of Carpathian bellflower seeds are a warm place and plenty of light.
From the moment of planting until the emergence of seedlings, the temperature in the room with the plants should be maintained at + 20-22 °C. Then you can slightly reduce it (to + 18-20 ° C).
Before the seeds sprout, the covered container with them should be kept on the sunniest windowsill of the apartment.After the first shoots appear, it is advisable to organize additional illumination of the Carpathian bell with a phytolamp, providing it with 12-14 hours of daylight.
During the first 2 weeks after planting, it is imperative to ventilate the plants, removing the cover for a few minutes in the morning and evening. The time spent by seedlings without a “greenhouse” after their germination begins to double daily. Then the film is removed completely.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
When growing Carpathian bellflower from seeds at home, watering the soil at first is done with a spray bottle or a teaspoon. The approximate frequency of moistening the substrate is every 3-4 days, as it dries. When the sprouts hatch, carefully water the seedlings at the root, avoiding water getting on the leaves.
2-3 weeks after the plants are distributed into individual containers, you can water them with a complex mineral composition or humus-based seedling fertilizer.
Picking
Carpathian bellflower seedlings are picked when they have 2-3 true leaves. The composition of the soil is the same as that used for germinating seeds. Containers can be selected as individual (cups with a volume of 200 ml or more) or common - with the expectation that the distance between the seedlings is at least 10 cm.
Carpathian bell seedlings dive at the stage of appearance of 2-3 true leaves
The picking is done like this:
- 1-2 hours before the procedure, the seedlings are watered abundantly;
- prepared containers are filled with substrate and small holes are dug in it;
- carefully remove the seedlings from the soil, several at a time, along with a lump of earth so as not to damage the roots (it is convenient to do this using a tablespoon or fork, turning it with the back side);
- carefully separate the lumps of substrate and plant 3-4 plants in each picking container;
- lightly compact the soil at the roots and water the seedlings.
Picked Carpathian bells can be placed in a greenhouse or greenhouse. 1-2 weeks before planting in the ground, it is recommended to harden the seedlings. To do this, the plants are left outdoors initially for 2 hours and over the course of 7 days, their time in the open air is increased to the whole night.
Transplantation into the ground
Depending on the climate in the region, the Carpathian bell is transplanted to a permanent place in May or early June. In the selected area, holes are dug at a distance of 30 cm from each other. A seedling along with a lump of earth is carefully transferred into each hole, buried down to the root collar and watered with warm water.
Diseases and pests
The Carpathian bell is rarely susceptible to disease. Among the ailments and pests that can harm his health are the following:
- Rust. The disease manifests itself in the form of red-colored “pustules” containing fungal spores on the aboveground organs of the plant. Affected leaves, stems, and flower calyxes quickly lose moisture, dry out and die. Fungicidal drugs (Abiga-Pik, Topaz, Fitosporin-M) are used for treatment.
Sometimes rust can be observed on the leaves, stems and calyxes of flowers of the Carpathian bell
- Fusarium wilt. It often affects seedlings after picking or planting in open ground, when the root system is severely damaged. The causative agent of the disease is a fungus.It penetrates through the roots, which quickly become brittle, and spreads through the vessels of the plant. As a result, the stem at the root collar rots, the leaves begin to turn pale, quickly wither and dry out. Affected plants should be immediately dug up and destroyed. The remaining plantings need to be watered with a fungicide solution (Oxychom, Fitosporin-M).
At the stage of picking or transplanting into the ground, seedlings often suffer from fusarium
- Slugs. These pests attack the Carpathian bell mainly in damp, rainy weather, eating young leaves. To combat them, folk remedies (mustard powder, hot pepper) and chemicals (Meta, Thunder) are used. Manual collection of pests is also effective.
In wet weather, young leaves of the Carpathian bell can be eaten by slugs
Conclusion
Growing Carpathian bell from seeds is not particularly difficult. It must be borne in mind that seedlings will germinate successfully if the seed is fresh and of high quality, and the soil is light and loose. You need to choose a place for the container with seedlings that is warm and bright, at first you need to organize a “greenhouse” for the sprouts and regular, careful watering. The attention and care provided to the Carpathian bell at the initial stage of life will ultimately allow you to get beautiful, healthy and unpretentious plants for your garden that will delight you with abundant and bright flowering for many years.
